Shopify

7 min read

29 Nov 2021

Here Are 15 Surprising Things to Sell on Shopify (Aside From Physical Items)

Here Are 15 Surprising Things to Sell on Shopify (Aside From Physical Items)

There is a misconception that ecommerce brand owners can only sell physical products on Shopify.

But that's not true.

In this blog post, you'll find a surprising list of non-physical items you can sell on Shopify...

And you ask, "Can I sell anything on Shopify?"

The answer is, absolutely YES!

But before I even start,

Let me tell you some of the reasons to start selling intangible goods on Shopify NOW!

Benefits of Selling Intangible Goods On Shopify

Benefits of Selling Intangible Goods On Shopify

1. It's time-saving.

Inventory management and sourcing are not required. There are also no shipping and logistics issues to deal with. It's less hassle on your part. .

2. Low investment.

Physical products require storage, shipping, and sourcing, as well as inventory management.

You can eliminate all of these costs by selling intangible goods. It costs less and it's super convenient, right?

3. The profitability is considerably high.

Digital products typically have high profit margins since they do not require physical inventory.

When you come to think of it, it is more profitable to sell intangible products than physical products.

Plus, your margin increases over time since you do not need to spend any money on production.

4. It's relatively easy to automate digital product delivery.

This will make things easier for you and will allow you to focus on growing your business.

I'm sure this is something you'd like to do. Right?

5. Digital products are in high demand as more businesses shift online.

Did you know? The demand for online courses is predicted to reach $319+ billion by 2025.

  1. Even if you're working full-time, the intangible products you sell online can provide you with extra or passive income.
  2. There is a lot of opportunities to sell anything and everything online.

6. It's customizable.

With the help of Shopify for Service Businesses, you'll be able to create your own digital storefront.

And the good thing, you can customize your store to match your branding without taking a cut of your profits or showing your competitors' products.

So you decide exactly how your site will look.

After all, Shopify aims to expand your online presence so that more customers can find you and you can boost your sales.

So, let me now jump into this interesting topic...

The 15 Surprising Things to Sell on Shopify

1. Workshops and Classes

Workshops and Classes

Selling classes and workshops has great potential in ecommerce.

If you are a teacher, a gym instructor, or maybe you have skills that you want to share, you can actually sell them in Shopify.

It's also a smart way to increase your income and explore new ways to earn at home.

Most importantly, you get to leverage your knowledge and talent to help others.

Aside from you being able to educate other people, you also get to earn passive income through your own skills and knowledge.

Right now, there are more than a million Shopify users with annual revenue (20220) of $2.86 billion.

So there's no doubt, that Shopify is a good place to start selling workshops and classes.

 For some examples of what you can teach, here are some other areas of expertise that have turned into profitable online course businesses:  

  • Fitness
  • Sewing and Crafts classes
  • Graphic Design
  • Yoga classes
  • Piano/ Guitar lessons
  • Zumba classes
  • Dance classes
  • Meditation
  • Personality Development Classes
  • Arts and Crafts
  • Photography
  • Copywriting

You only need to promote your online courses in a variety of ways to ensure that they are seen as widely as possible.

Next up...

2. Digital Products

Digital Products

Digital products are basically anything you deliver in a virtual format.

Among the digital downloads, you can offer in Shopify are ebooks, email templates, videos, songs, and graphic arts.

If you are a graphic designer, it is easy to create digital items that sell. You already have all the tools you need to get started!

Customers who will purchase your digital product receive a link for downloading the file and then they can enjoy it right away.

On the other hand, if you think you are not a tech-savvy person...

And perhaps, creating, marketing, and selling digital products can be overwhelming for you...

Don't worry. With Shopify, it's surprisingly easy to learn.

They will provide all the support that you need from creating your store to making sure you provide great service to your customers.

Good deal, right? Let's move on...

3. Professional Services

Professional Services

Yes, you can sell your expertise! The use of an online store is viable for professionals.

It doesn't matter if you are a doctor, architect, interior designer, insurance consultant, or fitness trainer.

Additionally, you should be able to advertise your services and your ecommerce store should provide customers with the option to book an appointment with you online or offline.

The next one is exciting...

4. Experience-Related Businesses 

Experience-Related Businesses 

There are several options here, such as travel and adventure providers, school trips, adult and kids camping.

Just don't forget...

You have to educate and offer relevant information to convince potential customers to buy tickets at your store.

You can do this by arranging all business information.

You can create tabs to the product description and provide all the details your customers may find helpful.

You can also make use of video content so potential customers can have a feel of the experience before deciding to buy.

For customers, this translates to convenience and satisfaction.

And for you- by offering online reservations and advance purchase options, these businesses can ensure revenue.

Hang in there...

5. Events

Events

Many businesses employ online ticketing, from event spaces to independently run theatres, concerts, movies, art exhibits, and many more.

Online ticket sales can be made easy with apps designed for this purpose.

With the Event Ticketing app for Shopify, you can design, sell, and scan event tickets.

Shopify's free QR code generator may also prove useful to you in creating unique codes your customers can show and can be scanned at live events.

There are those who sell single-visit or one-time event tickets. But some make use of annual memberships- let me discuss it, next...

Let me discuss it further...

6. Membership

Membership

A membership is a perfect product for someone seeking recurring revenue.

Buying and selling memberships online is feasible for golf courses, galleries, and content creators who want to secure long-term commitments from their customers as opposed to selling one-time services.

You can encourage potential customers to buy memberships that allow year-round access and member-only perks.

Just like subscription businesses, it relies on recurring payments and customer management tools to function.

This is a great way to get your customer's commitment to your product and ensure your sales ?.

Let me get to the next point.

7. Rentals

Rentals

Rental businesses are businesses that offer physical products to customers for a set period of time.

Here, customers pay for the advantage of using and enjoying an item for a short time frame without having to deal with long-term costs.

This also means easy access at a cheaper cost.

Examples are costume rental, dress rental, etc.

Another option is...

8. Gift Cards

Gift Cards

Gift cards are the easiest nontangible goods to sell on your Shopify store.

These are special types of products and your online store can use it as payment for future orders.

In order to redeem the gift card value, the customer must enter the gift card code sent via email.

Gift cards are a good gift option for customers looking to find gifts for their friends and loved ones.

It saves them a lot of time and hassle.

Are we down to the next product ?

9. Quotes and Estimates

Quotes and Estimates

Providers of highly technical services and products save time and money by using quotes and estimates services.

Typically, quotes are free and just a tool used to increase sales.

But, you can charge a certain fee for more comprehensive estimates or assessments requiring an in-person visit.

Using this marketing tool is also an extremely effective way to promote the company's other products and services.

It's a chance for you to introduce other products you are offering.

Moving on...

10. Donations

Donations

Some charities or non-profits use Shopify to manage their merchandise, selling branded products to raise funds for their organizations.

Charity organizations and non-profits can also use an online store to raise funds for one-time donations and on a recurring basis.

It's also a great way to let people know your advocacy and they'll be able to help by buying.

The next product is so timely because nowadays, almost everyone is going live!

Speaking of which, this leads us to...

11. Live Streaming

Live Streaming

You can sell tickets to Livestream events. Or through your site's portal, which customers can access by logging in.

You can monetize your online content through ads and tips delivered directly to social platforms.

And, if you are a content creator, you can manage the entire process yourself to be more in control.

You retain ownership of your content and customer info when you sell and host live streams on your site without the use of a third party.

I'm down to my twelfth product which is...

12. Service Appointments

Service Appointments

If you have a music school or salon business, you can use an online store to sell virtual consultation times and in-person services.

Offering self-serve online booking makes it easier for customers to schedule an appointment in-person or online.

Service appointments are one of the best ways for customers to shop without any risk.

With Shopify, they form builder and booking apps that provide you with the tools you need to sell services.

Fortunately, Debutify can assist you in building a successful Shopify store with its over 50+ Add-Ons.

Now, on to the next...

13. Stock Photography

Your photos can supply you with a steady side income if you have an eye for good images, color light, and framing.

Shopify can assist you from shooting to selling your photography.

They can support you with free resources, easy-to-use tools, and dedicated support.

So that you can start, grow, and run your photography business.

Hang on, we're down to...

14. Prints and Patterns for Crafting

Prints and Patterns for Crafting

There's a really big market for crafts and patterns. You can find everything from sewing, crochet patterns, to cross-stitch, knitting patterns, and just about anything else you can think of.

Additionally, there is the market for printable products: whether you offer coloring pages for both adults and kids, posters, or birthday cards. More people are looking for these!

There's just one product left...

15. Affiliate Program

Affiliate Program

Affiliate programs function as a partnership.

It allows you to sell your partner's products or vice versa.

You can collaborate with someone who has a substantial following so you can teach their followers about your products.

With whom can you partner? Ideally, with a business related to yours.

Once you've partnered with them, you will get a link to your partner's goods and you can promote their products. Each time you make a sale through your link or code, your partner will pay you a commission.

When you do this, you can introduce your products to more people.

You see, Shopify has rapidly become one of the most popular ecommerce sites in the world. And people aren’t just selling physical products on Shopify. 

Now you know that...

You Can Start Selling Intangibles on Shopify!

Oh, but wait, I know selling intangible products on Shopify excites you... but there's one more thing I want to tell you.

Honestly, there can be a lot of competition when selling intangible products, since they are relatively easy to start.

As a result, you will likely be competing with others who offer similar products for a cheaper price.

But the good news, you can stand out from the competition by optimizing your store with Debutify.

Do you know?

With Debutify, you don't only optimize your store's look and feel -- it can also optimize your revenue.

Debutify's 50+ Add-Ons boost your conversions, increase your average order value, and shoot your profits.

Optimize Your Ecommerce Store With Debutify - Today!

14 Days Trial. 1 Click Installation. No Credit Card Required.

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Author

Ricky Hayes

Ricky Hayes is the CEO at Debutify. He is a passionate entrepreneur running multiple businesses, marketing agencies, and mentoring programs.

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